Stamping device

ABSTRACT

A stamping device for providing ink to a stamp die supported by a frame movable between a first position wherein the stamp die is in contact with an ink pad through an opening in an envelope that otherwise completely encloses the ink pad, and a second position wherein the frame is shifted downwardly to disengage the stamp die from the ink pad. The frame is attached to the stamping device in such a manner that downward movement of the stamp die away from the ink pad results in the movable frame being rotated 180* to move the stamp die into a position for further downward movement toward a stamping operation. Tensioning means are provided for urging a sealing member, carried by the movable frame and circumscribing the stamp die, into engagement with the outer surface of the envelope to provide a seal around the envelope opening, thereby preventing a premature drying of the ink carried by the ink pad.

0 United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,779,164

Study Dec. 18, 1973 1 STAMPING DEVICE Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey[75] Inventor: Jon A. Study, Grosse Pointe Woods, Asslsmm ExammerTRSuter Mich. Attorney-Hauke, GlffOl'd and Patalrdrs [73] Assignee: Carco,lnc., Detroit, Mich.

[57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: May 3, 1971 A stamping device for providingink to a stamp die [21] Appl. No.: 139,784 supported by a frame movablebetween a first position wherein the stamp die is in contact with an inkpad [52 US. Cl. ..101/334, 101/333 through an p g in an envelope thatOtherwise [51] Int. Cl B4lk 1/54 Completely encloses the ink P and asecond p [58] Field of Search 101/334, 104, 105, tion wherein the frameis shifted downwardly t9 disen- 101/333, 371 368 405 406 gage the stampdie from the ink pad. The frame is attached to the stamping device insuch a manner that [56] References Cit d downward movement of the stampdie away from the UNITED STATES PATENTS ink pad results in the movableframe being rotated 3 599 566 8/197] Fish low-33 180 to move the stampdie into a position for further 3215 073 11/1965 Roni's''ijIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 101/133 dowrlwald movement l a stamplllgl:245:624 11/1917 Scotford 101/105 Terslonmg means are Pmvded for rgmg aSealmg 2,829,594 4 1958 Goc 101/334 x member, Carried by mctvable frameand Circum- 2,252,649 8/1941 Smallman 101/333 scribing the Stamp intoengagement with the Outer l,4()l,436 12/1921 Pannier 101/105 surface ofthe envelope to provide a seal around the 2,079,080 5/1937 MelindlO1/104X envelope opening, thereby preventing a premature 2,312,7273/1943 Nisenson.... l0l/l04 X drying of the ink carried by the p d859,3l0 7/1907 Matthews 101/334 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEU um18 I975 FIG FIG-l FIG-6 INVENTOR JON A. STUDY STAMPING DEVICE BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention relatesto stamping devices and, in particular, to hand stamping devices of thetype having a stamp die which is brought into engagement with an ink padafter each use of the device.

II. Description of the Prior Art Stamping devices and, in particular,hand stamping devices are commonly employed to apply an ink mark to anarticle to be marked, such as merchandise, paper and other items whereprice, date or other indicia is to be provided. Although present daycommercially available hand stamping devices have proved to be extremelysatisfactory, they are deficient in the sense that they must beconstantly refilled due to the evaporation and/or premature drying ofink in the pad. In most applications, the refilling of the pad does notrepresent a substantial problem as the rate of evaporation of the inkfrom the ink pad is normally slow enough to enable the user to completeuse of the stamping device for at least one work day without thenecessity of refilling the ink pad. The problem of ink evaporationand/or drying is severly compounded when certain industrial-type inksare used to provide a mark on an article and, in particular, when thearticle has a non-porous surface, such as a metal part or the like. Inorder to mark such non-porous metal parts, a very quick-drying ink mustbe used, and heretofore such industrial-type marking inks precluded theuse of a conventional hand stamping machine as the ink in the ink padwould dry within a few minutes after the liquid ink had been applied tothe ink pad.

One suggested method for correcting or eliminating the problem of rapidevaporation and/or premature drying of ink has been the provision of anink storage reservoir within the handle of the hand stamping device withmeans for selectively dispensing the ink from the storage reservoir tothe ink pad to make up for ink which has evaporated and especially aftera period of non-use. However, this is not an entirely satisfactorysolution to the problem in that itdoes not prevent evaporation orpremature drying of the ink, but merely re plenishes ink to the ink padas needed. Thus, such prior art devices do not correct the problem, butmerely compensate for it in a manner which necessitates additionalmechanical elements for the hand stamping machine with a correspondingincrease in the cost of manufacturing the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, comprises a stamping device having anink pad and a stamp die adapted to engage the ink pad such that thestamp die is inked after each time the stamp device is actuated. Thestamp die is sup ported by a frame movable between a first, normalposition wherein the stamp die is in contact with the ink pad for theapplication of the ink to the stamp die and a second, operative positionwherein the stamp die is moved out of contact with the ink pad andtoward the stamping position. The ink pad is enclosed in a fluid tightenvelope having an opening which permits entry of the stamp die forcontact with the ink pad when the frame is in the first position. Theframe carries a sealing member which engages the outer surface of theenvelope for providing a seal to prevent the premature drying and/orevaporation of the ink within the ink pad when the stamping device isnot being used and the stamp die is in the first position.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stampingdevice having means for preventing the premature drying and/orevaporation of the ink therefrom.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a stampingdevice which will overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and defectsof present day stamping devices, in addition to being relativelyinexpensive to manufacture, and which is reliable and relatively troublefree.

Other objects, advantages, and applications of the present inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art of stamping deviceswhen the accompanying description of one example of the best modecontemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The description herein makes referenceto the ac companying drawing wherein like reference numerals refer tolike parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned front elevational view of a stampingdevice constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the stamping device illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the stampingdevice taken generally on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross'sectional view of the stampingdevice taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stamping deviceillustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the stamping devicetaken along line 66 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing and, inparticular, to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated one example of thepresent invention in the form of a hand stamping device 10, comprising aU-shaped upper support frame 12 that is movable up and down with respectto a lower U-shaped support frame 14. The opposite legs 16 and 18 of thelower support frame 14 are provided with aligned elongated slots 20 and22, respectively, through which a connecting pin 24 extends. Theextending opposite ends of the connecting pin 24 are fixed to the lowerends of the legs 26 and 28 of the upper support frame 12 and function toguide the upper support frame 12 as it is reciprocated upwardly anddownwardly with respect to the lower support frame 14. The connectingpin 24 rotatably supports a movable carrier member 30 having upper sidewalls 32 forming a rectangular recess 34 in which a resilient mountingblock 36 is attached. The mounting block 36 provides a convenient meansfor the mounting of a stamp die 38. When the stamp die 38 is mounted onthe mounting block 36, the ink applying surface 39 of the stamp die 38extends slightly above the upper edges 40 of the walls 32 for a purposewhich will be described hereinafter.

The upper support frame 12 mounts a tubular handle 41 having a bore 43which telescopically engages a guide member 42 carried at the uppersurface of the base portion of the lower U-shaped support frame 14. Theguide member 42 has a pair of frusto-conically shaped portions 44forming a shoulder 45 that is adapted to be engaged by a locking member46 when the upper support frame 12 is in a down position with respect tothe lower support frame 114. A spring 47, disposed within the handle,has one end bearing against a portion of the guide member 42, while theother end of the spring 47 bears against the blind end of the handlebore 43 and provides a means for normally maintaining the upper supportframe 12 in an elevated position with respect to the lower support frame14 in a well known manner. The lower extremities of the lower supportframe legs 16 and 18 are connected by a pair of spaced pins 48 andprovide rigidity and strength to the stamping device 10.

The bottom surface of the base of the lower support frame 14 has arectangularly shaped recess 50 in which an ink pad assembly 52 issecured. The ink pad assembly 52 comprises an absorbant ink pad 54 forcontaining ink. The pad 54 is rectangular in shape and is preferablyformed of a single piece of felt material. The ink pad 54 is enclosed bya non-porous material 56 such as plastic or the like which completelysurrounds and seals the ink pad 54 with the exception of an aperture oropening 58 which faces the slot formed between the downwardly extendinglegs 16 and 18 of the lower support frame and which is so sized as toaccommodate the entry of the ink applying face 39 of the stamp die 38when the upper support frame 12 is in the elevated position as shown inFIGS. 1-4. When the upper support frame 12 is in the elevated position,the stamp die 38 is engaged with the ink pad 54 for the applicationofink to the stamp die face 39, while at the same time the upper edges40 of the carrier walls 32 contact the outer surface of the plasticenclosure material 56 at a position circumscribing both the stamp dieface 39 and the opening 58. The tensioning bias of the coil spring 47within the handle 41 exerts a force of sufficient magnitude so as tourge the upper edges 40 of the carrier member walls 32 into a tightsealing engagement with the engaged portion of the plastic closurematerial 56 providing an effective seal for preventing the admittance ofair into the ink pad, and as can best be seen in FIGS. 34 actuallycomprises the ink pad, and thus preventing the premature drying of theink by retarding the evaporation of the ink.

In actual use, the seal has been effective to prevent the prematuredrying out of the ink from the pad 54 for a period in excess of threemonths of non-use of the stamping device 10, whereas the same ink whenapplied to a conventional stamping pad not having the sealing meansprovided by the engagement of the carrier member walls 32 with plasticmaterial 56 will normally dry within a matter of hours.

Refer now to FIGS. 3 and 4 for a brief description of the operation ofthe carrier member 30 to cause an application of ink to the stamp die 38and for a marking of an article by means of a stamp die. At oneextremity of the carrier member 30 there is formed a pair of downwardlyprojecting wings 60 which are provided with cam grooves 62, as shown inFIG. 3. The wings 60 lie adjacent to the inner-face of the lower supportleg 18 and are adapted to cooperate with pins 64 carried by the leg 18so as to invert the carriage member 30 as the handle 41 is depressed ina well known manner to thereby rotate the carrier 180 for placing thestamp die face in position for a stamping operation.

As shown in phantom in FIGS. 3 and 4, at the opposite extremity of thecarrier member 30 there is formed a downwardly projecting flange 66(FIG. 41) which is slidably disposed within a slot 68 formed on theinnerface of the lower support frame leg 16. The engagement of theflange 66 with the slot 68 guides the carrier member 30 in its up anddown movement, while the wings 60 and pins 64 impart the rotating motionto the carrier member 30. The inner-face of the leg 16 has an enlargedslotted section 70 opening to the slot 68 and which permits the flange66 to rotate and reengage the narrower portion of a slot 68 to guide thecarrier member 30 in its further downward movement toward the article tobe marked.

It can thus be seen that when the stamping device is not in use the coilspring 47 within the handle 41 biases the carrier member 30 upwardlysuch that the upper edges 40 of the walls 32 sealingly engage the outersurface of the plastic enclosure material 56 to prevent the admittanceof the air into the ink pad, thereby preventing the premature dryingand/or evaporation of the ink within the ink pad 54.

It should be further noted that the principles of the present inventionare applicable to other typesof inking machines other than hereindisclosed and that the invention also has equal application to inkingmachines other than the hand-operated type.

While there is described herein only one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, it is to be understood that minor changes may be madethereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A stamping device comprising a compressible ink pad and a holder forholding said ink pad,

a carrier member and a stamp die carried by said carrier member,

means normally urging said stamp die upwardly toward a first position inwhich said stamp die is in engagement with said ink pad,

a handle for grasping said stamping device and for imparting movement tosaid stamping device to urge said stamp die downwardly toward a secondposition away from said ink pad and into engagement with an article tobe marked,

a fluid impervious envelope enclosing said stamp pad except for anopening positioned to permit said stamp die to register with said stamppad through said opening, when said stamp die is in said first position,

said envelope being disposed intermediate said ink pad and said holderand being of a plastic material, said carrier member having walls formedaround said stamp die and extending upwardly from said carrier member adistance slightly below the upper edges of said stamp die to engage andplastically deform said envelope into said compressible ink pad to forma seal completely enclosing said opening when said stamp die is in saidfirst position in engagement with said ink pad to prevent evaporation ofink from said ink pad.

* i k w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.779, 164 Dated December 1973 Inventor(s) Jon Study It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 53, after "slots 20", insert (FIG. 4)

line 58, after "frame 14'', delete "The" and insert Referring now toFIGS 3 & 4, the.

Column 3, line 29, after "58", insert (FIG. 5)

line 60, delete "to cause" and insert which causes--;

line 61, delete "for".

Signed and sealed this 9th day of April 19714..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD ILFLETCHERJR. C. MARSHALL DAMN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents FORM PC2-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 w us. GOVERNMENTPRINTING orncz: I559 mass-3343, 1

1. A stamping device comprising a compressible ink pad and a holder forholding said ink pad, a carrier member and a stamp die carried by saidcarrier member, means normally urging said stamp die upwardly toward afirst position in which said stamp die is in engagement with said inkpad, a handle for grasping said stamping device and for impartingmovement to said stamping device to urge said stamp die downwardlytoward a second position away from said ink pad and into engagement withan article to be marked, a fluid impervious envelope enclosing saidstamp pad except for an opening positioned to permit said stamp die toregister with said stamp pad through said opening, when said stamp dieis in said first position, said envelope being disposed intermediatesaid ink pad and said holder and being of a plastic material, saidcarrier member having walls formed around said stamp die and extendingupwardly from said carrier member a distance slightly below the upperedges of said stamp die to engage and plastically deform said envelopeinto said compressible ink pad to form a seal completely enclosing saidopening when said stamp die is in said first position in engagement withsaid ink pad to prevent evaporation of ink from said ink pad.